Village Bimble.

I went out this morning and rode through some small villages around the south of Stevenage.
Not an exciting trip, but pleasant, sunny and relaxed. I covered 35km and arrived back for a late lunch.

Two views of wildflowers at Fairlands Lakes.

The Beane Valley from the Watton to Walkern road.

Watton at Stone.

Harmer Green.

Three more views in the Harmer Green area.

Distant views of Datchworth.

Woolmer Green in foreground. Stevenage on the horizon.

Thrre views of Mardley Heath.

Views of Knebworth village (2).

Village 1 was near the church and was cleared to improve the Lyrtton family's view and protect their delicate upper-class sensibilities.

Village 3 is at the base of the hill on the Great North Road.

I'm still a sad little bimbler.

Big things are just around the corner (metaphorically).

Wednesday 14th May. Therfield Heath and Ashwell

I had planned to cycle today, but was, as usual, reluctant to actually start. I really must move to a more interesting part of the country. I finally forced myself out of the house at 10h15.

I rode east along the main road to Walkern, then turned north along the High Street.
I stopped to take photographs at the ford by the church, then continued on through
Cromer, Rushden and Redhill. At the junction of the Sandon road
four female fallow deer came trotting around the corner. I have never been
so close to deer, but they completely ignored me, turned right, then leapt
the verge and carried on towards Wallington.

I climbed the hill to Roe Green with very little (for me) effort, rode through the village of 
Sandon, then stopped for a drink at Kelshall.
I continued through Therfield then turned north again to reach Therfield Heath.

I locked my bike to the fence by the stile. This was not very satisfactory, but was all I could do, then wandered the heath and woodland.
I found the last two pasque flowers still in bloom, which pleased me as I had 
thought I would have been too late to see them. I also spotted some white helleborine
in the woodland; a new species for me.

I rode down the hill to the Royston road. The headwind (just) prevented me from 
even reaching 50kmh. At the bottom I turned left, then right towards Litlington.
I rode some distance, then turned left onto what I though was Ashwell Street. It
wasn't, but I discovered Litlington's own chalk grassland nature reserve. I
will visit it on a future ride.

I found Ashwell Street and set off west towards the village itself. Halfway along
I saw a female wheatear. The track itself was very dry and rideable, and I would recommend it for anyone nervous about riding on roads.

I Ashwell I stopped and sat by the springs to eat my lunch. I took a few photographs
in the village, then rode the short distance along Hinxworth Road to the HMWT
Ashwell Quarry Pit reserve. This was just a short visit as there was nowhere
to leave my bike (a shortcoming common at County Wildlife Trust reserves).
Also I did not notice until I left that access to the reserve is by permit only. Whoops!

I returned to the village then rode up Partridge Lane to visit Arbury Banks. On the
way I found the very rusty and delapidated remains of a truck in the hedge. It
was so old that it had solid tyres.
At the hillfort I read the information board, but the site itself was fenced off. It was
a very clear site; I assume a local farmer cuts it for hay.
I rode the very bumpy and rutted bridleway to the Bygrave road, then continued through
Baldock, where I had to stop to buy a drink.
After struggling up the ridiculously steep Weston Hills, I rode through the village of
Weston itself, then back into Ste Evenege.
A very pleasant day, very little physical effort and 62km covered.

Walkern ford.

Roe Green, Sandon.

Pasque flower.

Along Ashwell Street.

Ashwell spring. A source of the River Cam.

Ashwell. Hard to find a few not polluted with cars.

Abandoned truck in hedge.

Ashwell museum.

Easter Monday

On Easter Monday I walked to Knebworth Park with my wife to watch the jousting. I had hoped that thee would be some kind of medieval fair going on with perhaps a hog roast and crafts, but it was just brightly clothed blokes on horses pretending to fight. 
It was really good fun though!

The performers are known as the Knights of Arkley, and are well worth seeing if you
get the opportunity

Inertia.

There is something that I need to do. I really, really need to do this. I have been putting it off for years. My life is effectively on hold until this event actually takes place. I have no enthusiasm, no get up and go, no joi de vivre.

At one time I was planning ahead for this event. I referred to it in my diary as P4; the 4 referring to the year 2004. That's how long I've been putting it off. That's how much of a wimp I am. That is how much time I have wasted.

I have created artificial future obstacles that would force me to act. But I'm so resourceful that I always managed to overcome them.

Well now the end is near. I have created a situation that will be unavoidable in thirteen days. There is no dodging it. Soon I must act.

I will in all likelihood regret taking this action. The only certain thing is that I will certainly regret not taking it.

Went for a ride yesterday. The weather was perfect. 

At the beginning I thought that I would avoid roads as much as possible and so I left town using bridleways. Unfortunately they were muddier and wetter than I had anticipated. I arrived at Shilley Green very bedraggled - my first 8km took forty minutes!

Once on the road my average speed (never much to boast about) increased rapidly.

Photogenic wet field.

Stevenage looking its best - ie from a distance.

I rode southwards and down in to the valley of the River Mimram. Ignoring a planned bridleway paralleling the river I instead climbed Tanyard Lane to the pretty village of Ayot St Lawrence.

Kimpton Mill, River MImram.

The new church. Obviously popular with visitors.

New church.

The mediaeval church is in ruins because the local landowner, Sir Lionel Lyde, decided to demolish it in 1775, because it was obstructing the view from his new home and he fancied something more 'modern'.

The arrogance of the rich and powerful never changes. That reminds me; the current MP is Grant Shapps.

I rode west out of the village and then southish through Gustard Wood, then began my ride home by looping back past Mackerye End. Here I passed a group of riders, all enjoying their retirement.

Mackerye End.

I decided to give the next bridleway a miss as it looked extremely muddy. However I then found myself on the noisy and busy B653, so I went straight on across Leasey bridge and up the hill. The road into Wheathampstead was just as busy as the B653. Oh well!

Anthills on Marshalls Heath nature reserve.

e

Wheathampstead.

I'll be there.

Views of Wheathampstead.

I sat at Wheathampstead's delightful restored station site to eat my lunch, then rode back along the Codicote Road and Brides Hall Lane to Ayot St Lawrence.

Ford over the Mimram.

Washed away bridleway on the hill up to Codicote.

I rode back to town via Tanyard Lane, Codicote, Nup End and Knebworth.

Rain over Stevenage.

Distance : 48km

Time : 4 hours

Effort : negligible (except while climbing Tanyard Lane and the 40m climb from Leasey Bridge).

Fun quota : high.

A Mouse's Tale.

I take food to work, but usually leave it in my pannier as this is more convenient for me except when the weather is very warm. Yesterday I left my sandwich in the bag in which the bread was packed, rather than using a lunchbox.
When it was time for elevenses I went out to my cycle, opened the pannier and out jumped a mouse. He had obviously been very busy as my sandwich looked like this:

Being a slow learner, today I used my lunchbox, but had a loose banana. 
Guess what I found when I went to eat it: